Rookie Mendoza stumbles in Raiders debut as Kittle recovery progresses
The No. 1 overall pick threw a pick-six in a 22-20 loss to Houston, while San Francisco’s George Kittle received an encouraging update on his Achilles tear.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza faced a challenging introduction to the professional game during a preseason matchup against the Houston Texans. The former Indiana Hoosier, selected as the No. 1 overall pick, played the entire first half but struggled to find rhythm against the Texans' defence. Mendoza completed eight of 16 passes for 86 yards, a performance that contributed to Las Vegas trailing by 17 points at the break.
The game’s tone was set early when Mendoza threw an interception on his third pass of the contest. Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz caught the ball over the middle and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. Despite the early setback, Mendoza’s struggles were eventually mitigated by the second-half performance of backup quarterback Aidan O'Connell. O'Connell completed 15 of 24 passes to lead the Raiders to a 22-20 comeback victory, erasing the 20-3 halftime deficit.
In San Francisco, the 49ers received positive news regarding the recovery of tight end George Kittle. Kittle met with orthopaedic specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Wednesday for a check-up that was described as encouraging. Reports indicate that Kittle is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an Achilles tear suffered in January, raising the possibility of a return by the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
Although Kittle has not yet been a full participant in 49ers practice this training camp, his return would provide a significant boost to an offence that has already faced roster challenges. The team lost wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for the entire season, prompting the signing of veteran Deebo Samuel after camp commenced. Kittle’s efficiency last year, which included 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games, makes his potential availability a key factor for quarterback Brock Purdy.
Elsewhere in the league, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed a heightened sense of urgency regarding the team’s postseason prospects. After missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, Burrow told reporters that the time for deferring goals is over. He stated that he is attempting to manifest the urgency required for a Super Bowl run, emphasising that the window for success is now.
Discipline was also a theme during a joint practice session between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints on Wednesday. Both teams were disciplined following several fights that broke out during the workout, highlighting the physical intensity of the preseason preparations across the league.
